For those of you who consider a good time is reciting Shakespeare to each other, consider renting the Canadian homage to the Bard, "Slings and Arrows". Actually, whether or not you're a passionate actor, if you've ever cringed through bad productions of Shakespeare, you will love the exploits of this Canadian troupe of classic actors. The creators really do understand Shakespeare. Now on DVD, this popular television series (which only had a three season run) is once again a hit with audiences.

Geoffrey Tennant (Paul Gross) becomes the Artistic Director of the fictional New Burbage when the previous AD Oliver Welles (Stephen Ouimette) dies unexpectedly. He then has to maintain order amidst gigantic actor egos, financial nightmares and his own pending breakdown. Not to mention dealing with pesky ghost of Oliver. One true-to-life scene is when (slightly) over-the-hill leading lady Ellen Fanshaw (Martha Burns) is audited and becomes infuriated with a bureaucracy she can't understand. She is an actress after all, and shouldn't have to deal with numbers, for God's Sake.

The glimpses of productions of "Hamlet", "Macbeth", "King Lear" and "Romeo and Juliet" are really inspirational, since this company is supposedly expert at Bard productions. It's a much-needed quality show, with all the comedic angst and subterfuge of a regular sitcom, just a little classier. And it's very nice to see good Shakespeare for a change. Don't miss it.

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Kate West

About Kate West and

Kate West has an extensive theatrical background and has been reviewing plays, musicals, one-acts, improv, comedy sketch and much more since 2003. Surrounded by mansplainers since forever. Cursed Muse.